Charging apparatus, method, system, and non-transitory medium

ABSTRACT

User identification information for identifying a user of a first terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtual communication operator via a communication network of a first communication operator is specified, and, based on the user identification information, charging for communication of the first terminal and charging for a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the user identification information are managed.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/559,116 filed Sep. 18, 2017, which is a National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2016/058456 filed Mar. 17, 2016,claiming priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-056370filed Mar. 19, 2015, the contents of all of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a charging apparatus, a method, system,and a non-transitory medium.

BACKGROUND

First, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network accommodating an LTE (LongTerm Evolution) radio access network will be described. FIG. 1schematically illustrates how terminals 1A and 1B contracting withtelecommunications carriers A and B respectively connect to theInternet, respectively. A communication operator that possesses acommunication infrastructure such as a base station, a core network, orthe like, is called a carrier or MNO (Mobile Network Operator) carrier.Meanwhile, a communication operator that borrows a necessarycommunication facility(s) such as a wireless infrastructure including abase station or the like from a MNO carrier, for example, and provides amobile communication service under its own brand is called a MVNO(Mobile Virtual Network Operator) carrier (virtual communicationoperator).

EPC 20A, which is a core network of a carrier A, includes, for example,SGW (Serving Gateway) 21A, PGW (Packet Data Network) Gateway 22A, MME(Mobility Management Entity) 23A, HSS (Home Subscriber Server) 25A, PCRF(Policy Charging Rules Function) 24A, PCEF (Policy and ChargingEnforcement Function) 26A, and the like. Representative elements of theEPC will be briefly described here (for details, reference will be madeto the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) specification (3GPP TS23.401 V9.5.0 (2010-06)), etc., for example). MME 23A performs variousprocesses such as mobility management and authentication of a userequipment (UE) 1A, setting of a user data transfer path, and the like.MME 23A cooperates with HSS 25A to perform user mobility management,authentication, and the like. HSS 25A holds user profile information(including contract information, authentication information, etc.). SGW21A performs transmission and reception of user data to and from a basestation (evolved NodeB: eNB) 10A and performs setting and release of acommunication path between SGW 21A and PGW 22A. PGW 22A connects to apacket data network (PDN) such as IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) and theInternet 30, and performs allocation of an IP (Internet Protocol)address (private IP address) to the terminal 1A. PCRF 24A is a policycontrol apparatus that determines policy control such as QoS (Quality ofService) and a charging control rule. PGW 22A and SGW 21A perform policycontrol on a per packet basis, for example, based on notificationinformation (policy) from PCRF 24A, PCRF 24A determines a policyregarding access control of a user IP flow and QoS parameter value, andPCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function) 26A performs accordingto the policy, the access control for a user IP flow and thecorresponding QoS control. In FIG. 1, the alphanumeric characters S1,S5, S8, SGi, etc., attached to signal lines represent interfaces. “U” ofS1-U represents a user plane (User Plane). S1-U represents a S1 userplane interface (where a user IP packet is transferred) between a basestation (eNB) and an SGW.

Regarding charging, there are provided an online charging system (OnlineCharging System: OCS) that captures a communication amount of a terminalin real time to compare the amount with a prepaid fee, and an offlinecharging system (Offline Charging System: OFCS) that accumulates acommunication amount, on a monthly basis, or the like, after asubscriber uses the network resources. An online charging system (OCS)(not illustrated) manages a communication amount to carry out conversionof the communication amount with a prepaid balance. PCRF 24A cooperateswith OCS (not illustrated) to manage a communication policy. PCEF 26Aapplies the communication policy to a packet transfer in PGW 22A.

It is noted that PCEF 26A may be implemented in PGW 22A. For example, ahigh-speed communication policy is applied to a terminal with a prepaidtype charging contract, GCS instructs application of a quota of 1 GB(Giga Bytes), for example, to PCEF 26A, which applies a high-speedcommunication. If there is a prepaid balance (correspondingcommunication amount), high-speed communication is allowed, and when theprepaid balance is 0, that is, when 1 GB is used up, PCRF 24 switches toa low-speed communication policy and applies low-speed communication. Itis noted that the quota may be a calling time or the like.

PCRF 24A includes PCRF database 24A-1 including a statisticalinformation table 24A-2 for holding statistical information such aspacket count, packet fee, call time, call charge, etc., and contractinformation such as packet plan, and a contract information table 24A-3for holding contract information such as a packet plan and a call plan.EPC 20B, which is the core network of the carrier B, has the sameconfiguration as that of EPC 20A, which is the core network of thecarrier A, described above, so the description of EPC 20B will beomitted.

The terminal 1A contracting with the carrier A and the terminal 1Bcontracting with the carrier B are individually charged from the carrierA and the carrier B, respectively.

For details of OCS, reference may be made to 3GPP Specification (3GPP TS32.296 V12.3.0 (2014-12)) and the like. For details of PCRF, PCEF, etc.,reference may be made to the specifications of 3GPP (3GPP TS 23.203V13.2.0 (2014-12)) and the like.

-   Non-Patent Literature 1: ETSI OS NFV-MAN 001 V1.1.1 (2014-12)    Network Functions Virtualization (NFV); Management and    Orchestration, retrieved on Jan. 25, 2015. The Internet    <http://www,etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV-MAN/001_099/001/01.01.01_60/gs_NFV-MA    N001v010101p.pdf>

SUMMARY

An analysis of the related art will be given in the below.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, charging for terminals using aplurality of carriers is managed for each carrier. The same applies to auser's terminal contracting with an MVNO carrier that provides acommunication service by borrowing communication facilities owned by aplurality of carriers, respectively. When a user has a terminal (forexample, a terminal of MVNO carrier) that uses communication facilitiesof different carriers (for example, different MNO carriers), charging isperformed for each carrier individually. As a result, it becomescomplicated for a user side to manage bills, etc., from respectivecarriers. That is, unification of charging management is desired for auser having one or more terminals that use communication facilities of aplurality of carriers, for example.

A main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, asystem, a method, and a non-transitory medium storing a program, eachenabling unification of charging management for a user owning one or aplurality of terminals using communication facilities of a plurality ofcarriers.

Further, in relation to the above problem, there are proposed anapparatus, a system, and a method, each realizing a unified charging fora user who uses a site(s) providing various services and for the usercontracting with a MVNO carrier.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided ancharging management apparatus connected to a communication network of avirtual communication carrier, the apparatus comprising

a first unit that specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via a first communicationnetwork of a first communication operator; and

a second unit that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal and charging for a service that the virtual communicationoperator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the useridentification information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda charging management apparatus that connects to a third communicationnetwork of a virtual communication operator that provides acommunication service using a communication facility of a firstcommunication network of a first communication operator and acommunication facility of a second communication network of a secondcommunication operator, the apparatus comprising:

a first unit that specifies first user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connected to the thirdcommunication network of the virtual communication operator via thefirst communication network, and specifying second user identificationinformation for identifying a user of a second terminal connected to thethird communication network of the virtual communication operator viathe second communication network; and

a second unit that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal, based on the first user identification information, the secondunit that manages charging for communication of the second terminalbased on the second user identification information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communication system comprising:

a communication network of a virtual communication operator thatprovides a communication service by using a communication facility of afirst communication network of a first communication operator and acommunication facility of a second communication network of a secondcommunication operator; and

a charging management apparatus connected to the communication networkof the virtual communication operator, wherein the charging managementapparatus comprises:

a first unit that specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via the firstcommunication network; and

a second unit that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal and charging for a service that the virtual communicationoperator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the useridentification information.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a charging management method comprising:

specifying user identification information for identifying a user of afirst terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtualcommunication operator via a first communication network of a firstcommunication operator; and

managing charging for communication of the first terminal and chargingfor a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled toprovide to the user identified by the user identification information.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided non-transitory computer readable recording medium storingtherein a program causing a computer constituting an charging managementapparatus connected to a communication network of a virtualcommunication operator to execute:

a first processing that specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via a first communicationnetwork of a first communication operator, and

a second processing that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal and charging for a service that the virtual communicationoperator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the useridentification information.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a unifiedmanagement of charging for communication and charging for a service thatcan be provided to a user based on user identification information.According to the present invention, it is also possible to realizeunification of charging management for a user owning one or a pluralityof terminals using communication facilities of a plurality of carriers.Still other features and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein only exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown anddescribed, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplatedof carrying out this invention. As will be realized, the invention iscapable of other and different embodiments, and its several details arecapable of modifications in various obvious respects, all withoutdeparting from the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptionare to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a related art.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a related invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the basic concept of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the example embodiment of FIG. 4 indetail.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charging apparatusaccording to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, a related invention as a premise of the invention willbe described, and then embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed.

In SDN (Software Denned Network)/NFV (Network Function Virtualization) aplurality of network appliances that individually require a casing areintegrated on a server using a virtualization technology. For example,virtualization of EPC (Evolved Packet Core) or the like, which is a corenetwork of a communication operator, is in progress. In a virtualizedEPC (Virtualized EPC: vEPC), for example, at least one or all of thefunctions of nodes such as SGW, PGW, MME, HSS, PCF and the like, areimplemented in a software-based manner by an application running on avirtual machine (VM). A software that implements a virtualized networkfunction is called VNF (Virtual Network Function) (one VNF is realizedusing one or more VMs). An execution infrastructure of a VNF, such as ahypervisor, which is a virtualization mechanism for virtualizinghardware resources (computing, storage, network interface controllerNIC), etc.), and hardware resources to be virtualized, is called a NEVI(Network. Function Virtualization infrastructure) (reference may be madeto Non-Patent Document 1 for details),

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the related invention as a premise ofthe present invention. In the following, it is assumed that a datacenter operator having a data center (DC) within a businessestablishment is a cloud operator that provides various services (forexample, cloud services such as file storage, data sharing,electronic-mail, use of a server, etc.) to clients. A virtual EPCnetwork (vEPC) 40 is constructed on a server (not illustrated) in thedata center (DC) 50, whereby, as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual NetworkOperator) carrier C, a communication service is provided to a client(contracting with the MVNO carrier C).

In FIG. 2, a communication facility such as a base station 10A, EPC (A)20A, or the like is a facility owned by an MNO carrier A, and acommunication facility such as a base station 10B, EPC (B) 20B, or thelike is a facility owned by an MNO carrier B. In FIG. 2, EPC (A) 20A andEPC (B) 20B are the same as EPC (A) 20A and EPC (B) 20B in FIG. 1 andthe description thereof will be omitted. A cloud operator (MVNO carrierC in this example) borrows the base station 10A and the base station10B, etc., lent from the MNO carrier A, and MNO carrier B, respectively.Here, terminals 1A and 1B of a user contracting with the MVNO carrier Care assumed to be SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)-free terminals, oneach of which a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module card) of the MNOcarrier A or B versions is inserted. In this case, the terminals 1A and1B respectively establish radio links (RRC (Radio Resource Control)Connected state) with the base stations 10A and 10B owned by thecarriers A and B, respectively, and connect through the EPC networks 20Aand 20B and via the Internet 30 to the virtual EPC 40 on a server (notshown) installed in the data center 50 of the cloud operator. Theterminals 1A and 1B receive connection service via the virtual EPC 40 tothe Internet 31, a cloud type content cache service, etc., provided bythe cloud operator.

Here, let the MVNO carrier C, be such a carrier, though not particularlylimited thereto, that integrates various services, for example,

-   -   Application store (purchasing and downloading of Application);    -   Electronic-book store;    -   Delivery services of movies, television, music, etc.;    -   Purchasing of terminals (smart phone, tablet, PC (Personal        Computer), etc.) (services including electronic payment and        electronic commerce), and establishes an integrated service        providing site for providing the service to the terminals 1A and        1B via a gateway 41.

The MVNO carder C, which is an owner of the data center 50, providesvarious cloud services. Therefore, contents or the like that the userhas purchased using the terminals 1A and 1B are stored and managed onthe cloud (data center 50), and using the same user account, are sharedby a plurality of terminals (for example, smart devices, a tablet, or aPC (Personal Computer), or the like that the user owns).

In the related invention of FIG. 2, when the same user possesses theterminals 1A and 1B, usage details such as monthly (billing statement)are separately sent from the MNVO carrier C to the user, for each of theterminals 1A and 1B, respectively. Alternatively, a current usage status(communication amount, communication charge, etc.) of each of theterminals 1A and 1B may be sent online. It is noted that in FIG. 2, inthe EPC networks 20A and 20B of the MNO carriers A and B, internal nodesare omitted and a PCRF database 24A-1 of the EPC network 20A of thecarrier A and a PCRF database 24B-1 of the EPC network 20B of thecarrier B are illustrated. In FIG. 2, the number of MNO carriers is notlimited to two, but it may, as a matter of course, be three or more.

In some cases, the MVNO carrier C sells a SIM card for passing throughthe communication network of the MNO carrier A (base station 10A and EPC20A in FIG. 2) and the communication network of the MNO carrier B (basestation 10B and EPC 20B in FIG. 2). As a charging system, there may be amonthly payment system, such as 6000 yen per month, an upper limit of acommunication amount being 7 GB/month, and no speed limit up to theupper limit, wherein when the communication amount exceeds the upperlimit, the communication speed is set to low speed (128 bps (bit persecond)). Alternatively, in a prepaid system, for example, a disposableSIM card (for example, 2000 yen) is used, and the communication capacityis, for example, 1 GB.

It is noted that in FIG. 2, the EPC network in the data center 50 iscomposed of a virtual EPC, but it need not be a virtual EPC. Further, inthe data center 50, the functions of the gateway 41, routers and variousother servers may be virtualized on one or more server apparatuses.

<Basic Mode>

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a basic mode (concept) ofthe present invention. The basic mode of the present invention may beimplemented in the system of FIG. 2, for example. Referring, to FIG. 3,the MVNO carrier C borrows communication facilities from the MNO carrierA and the MNO carrier B, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 3,for example, the MVNO carrier C borrows X million lines lent from theMNO carrier A and Y million lines lent from the MNO carrier B. MVNOcarrier C can provide (X+Y) million lines. The MVNO carrier C performscharging management of a terminal into which a SIM card provided by theMVNO carrier C is inserted, in a unified manner (centralized manner),irrespective of whether the SIM card is a carrier A version or a carrierB version. At that time, for example, basic charge, call charge,communication charge, etc. can be collectively charged based on a useraccount registered at an integrated service providing site provided bythe data center 50 (FIG. 2) owned by the MVNO carrier C. A user accountestablished at the integrated service providing site may be a mailaddress of a free e-mail such as Web mail, for example. In this case,notification of usage details, etc. to the user may be made by freee-mail using this user account. Further, the user account may be anarbitrary ID (user ID or the like) associated with a mail address asdescribed above.

A user using the integrated service providing site of the MVNO carrier C(cloud operator) can prepay for various services provided by theintegrated service providing site (prepaid system). In this case, acharge for a SIM card provided by the MVNO carrier C contracted by theuser may be automatically withdrawn from the prepaid balance. In thiscase, a withdrawal may be made based on a measured rate system, such as1000 yen for communication amount: up to 1 GB, 3000 yen forcommunication amount: up to 4 GB, etc., or a flat rate system such as2500 yen per month. As a special option for a user of a SIM card(s),such a license for using Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity: Wi-Fi is a registeredtrademark of Wi-Fi Alliance)—calling (Wi-Fi is used to make calls andSMS (short message service) A function to transmit and receive data) maybe provided free or charged (fixed rate or measured rate) to the user,and if the license is charged, it may be added to the charge.

According to the basic mode of FIG. 3, in order to charge based on auser account, in a case where the user owns a plurality of terminals anduses one ID (common user account), charging for the plurality ofterminals can be unified (consolidated) as charging for the common useraccount. For example, assuming that a user makes a contract with a MVNOcarrier C (cloud operator) with a plan of 1,000 yen for communicationamount up to 1 GB, and that the user has a smart phone and a tablet, theuser can use up to 1 G, as an upper limit of total communication amountsof the smart phone and the tablet (for example, smartphone: 0.7 GB andtablet: 0.3 GB, etc.).

The user can make a contract with the MVNO carrier C, for example, fromthe integrated service providing site of the MVNO carrier C (cloudoperator) using the user account. For example, the user can selectaccording to a characteristic of each carrier, such as a carrier A beingNo. 1 as for ease of connection, while a carder B being No. 1 as forline stability, contract fee, or the like.

According to the basic mode of the present invention, as describedabove, when a plurality of terminals owned by a user contracting withthe MVNO carrier C uses the communication network of the carrier A orthe carrier B, charging will be unified, regardless of whether thecommunication network of the carrier A or the carrier B is used. Evenwhen the same terminal uses the communication network of the carrier Aand the communication network of the carrier B, with SIM cards of thecarder A version and the carrier B version replaced, charging may bealso unified.

According to the basic mode of the present invention, regarding aterminal contracting with a virtual communication operator providing acommunication service by borrowing communication facilities owned by aplurality of communication carriers, it is possible to manage chargingcollectively for the plurality of communication carriers.

Furthermore, according to the basic mode of the present invention, it ispossible to perform unified management of the charge related tocommunication and the charge related to a service (s) that can beprovided to the user, based on user identification information.

Example Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the basicconfiguration of FIG. 3 is implemented in FIG. 2. Also in FIG. 4, aswith FIG. 2, the MVNO carrier C borrows facilities such as a basestation 10A, EPC 20A, etc., and a base station 10B, EPC 20B, etc., lentrespectively by a MNO carrier A and MNO carrier B. It is noted that inFIG. 4, the data center 50 in FIG. 2 is omitted. In FIG. 4, basestations 10A and 10B, EPC networks 20A and 20B, PCRF databases 24A-1 and24B-1, and the Internet 30 are the same as those in FIG. 2 and thedescription thereof will be omitted.

The EPC network 40 may be the same as the EPC network 40 in FIG. 2(virtual EPC (vEPC), or EPC configured by actual machines). Although aPCRF database 44-1 of the EPC network 40 in FIG. 4, is not illustratedin FIG. 2, it may be mounted on the virtual EPC 40 of the data center 50in FIG. 2, for example.

The essential difference between the example embodiment of FIG. 4 andthe related invention of FIG. 2 is that the example embodiment includesa cooperation database 45 (database (DB) associated with PCRF database44-1). A service (including a communication service) is provided to auser based on information in the cooperation database 45, and awithdrawal is automatically made.

The MVNO carrier C uses respective user's accounts (for example,“aaa@example.com”, “bbb@example.com”) for charging management ofterminals 1A and 1B. The user account may be such as account informationestablished by the user at the integrated service providing site (Website) of the MVNO carrier C, and it may also be a free e-mail addresssuch as Web mail, for example. Further, as described above, when theuser account is an arbitrary ID, an electronic mail address associatedwith the ID corresponds to the user account. The cooperation database 45may be managed by an authentication server (not illustrated). It isnoted that in FIG. 4, IMEIs (International Mobile Equipment identity: 15digits starting with 35) of the terminals 1A and 1B are simply expressedby three digits, such as 111 and 222, only for simplicity's sake.

The cooperation database 45 includes an account linkage table 45-1 tohold account information of the integrated service providing site of theMVNO carrier IMEI, (Primary Key (PK): information for uniquelyidentifying a set of data sets (records) from the database), andinformation such as a charging method.

Based on the correspondence (linkage) between the account information(user account) in the account linkage table 45-1 of the cooperationdatabase 45 and an IMEI (PK) of the terminal, linkage of the statisticalinformation table 44-2 of the PCRF database 44-1 and information of thecontractor information table 44-3 (both including IMEI) is performed.Thus, it is possible to calculate communication charge, call time, callcharge, and the like, based on the user account. As for a call timecalculated for a terminal that can use Wi-fi Calling (a function ofsending and receiving calls and SMS using Wi-Fi (registered trademark)),a call time by 3G (3rd Generation), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5thgeneration) and a call time by Wi-Fi Calling may be separatelycalculated. Further, the call charge may be calculated by settingcharges different on per time based on the user accounts.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of informationretained in the PCRF database 44-1 and the cooperation database 45 inFIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the statistical information table 44-2 of the PCRFdatabase 44-1 included in the PCRF 44 (server) stores IMEI (PK) of theterminal of the user contracting with the MVNO carrier C, packet countvalue, call time (duration), call charge (¥) and packet charge (¥).

When the MVNO carrier C borrows the communication facilities from theMNO carriers A and B to provide the communication facilities to the useras a communication facility of the MVNO carrier C, a packet count value,call time, call charge (¥), and packet charge (¥) in the statisticalinformation table 44-2, are calculated in such a way that

-   -   a packet count value, call time, call charge (¥), and packet        charge (¥), which the user terminal 1A (on which a carrier A        version SIM card is inserted) uses the communication network of        the MNO carrier A; and    -   a packet count value, call time, call charge (¥), and packet        charge (¥) for the terminal 1B on which (the carrier B version        SIM card is inserted) and that has the same user account as the        user account of the terminal 1A, are summed up and consolidated.        In the statistical information table 44-2, as for summing of the        call charge (¥) and summing of the packet charge (¥) in the        communication network of the MNO carriers A and B of the        terminal 1A and the terminal 1B, instead of simple addition of        the charge of each carrier, a calculation using a unique charge        calculation system such as a weighted addition with        predetermined weight coefficients, based on the call charge (¥)        and the packet charge (¥) of the communication network of the        MNO carriers A and B, and based on the contract with the MNO        carriers A and B, may be applied.

The contractor information table 44-3 includes information items such asIMEI (PK), calling plan (upper limit, etc.) packet plan (upper limitetc.), communication limit information, account, name and address,communication permission/non-permission, etc. of a user's terminalcontracting with the MVNO carrier C.

A call plan (upper limit, etc.), packet plan (upper limit, etc.), andthe communication limit information in the contractor information table44-3 correspond to a call plan (upper limit, etc.), packet plan (upperlimit, etc.), and the communication limit information obtained bysumming those of the terminal 1A (on which a carrier A version SIM cardis inserted) using the communication network of the MNO carrier A andthe terminal 1B (on which a carrier B version SIM card is inserted)using the communication network of MNO carrier B.

The account linking table 45-1 of the cooperation database 45 includesinformation items such as MEI (PK), account, account charging method,prepaid reserve capacity of the account (balance of the prepaidaccount), charging method (prepaid method or credit card payment), etc.,of a terminal. These items of information may be set from a managementterminal (apparatus) of the MVNO carrier C, based on relevantinformation on which a user contracts with the MVNO carrier C. When theuser's terminal uses the communication network of the MVNO carrier C ora service provided by the integrated service providing site of the MVNOcarrier C (electronic book purchasing, etc.) (51), settlement isperformed with reference to the cooperation database 45, and a usenotification (withdrawal notification) is made (52).

Instead of unified charging management using the account, such as optionof individually performing charging management for each user's terminalis available by setting of the account charging method in the accountpegging table 45-1 of the cooperative database 45. In this case, a user,who is a subscriber of the MVNO carrier C and possesses a plurality ofterminals (smart phone and tablet), can receive individually usagedetails of each terminal, with the MVNO carrier C performing chargingmanagement individually for each terminal. In the present exampleembodiment, as described above, the MVNO carrier C perform unifiedcharging management for different carriers (MNO carriers A and B), basedon a user account. However, instead of unified charging management fordifferent carriers, when a user owns a plurality of terminals that use acommunication facility of the same carrier (MNO carrier A, for example),charging, for the plurality of terminals may, as a matter of course, beunitarily managed based on the user account (together with the chargingfor use of a service(s) other than user's communication, and call). Thatis, when a user of the MVNO carrier C owns a plurality of terminalshaving a SIM card of the carrier A in FIG. 4, packet count values, calltime, call charge, packet charge, etc., of the plurality of terminalsare linked by a user account common to the plurality of terminals, and aunified charging information into which charging information of theplurality of terminals are consolidated, is notified to the user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the example embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The operation sequence of the presentexample embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

(1) A communication request is made from the terminal (for example, 1Ain FIG. 4) to the EPC network 40 of the MVNO carrier C via the basestation (for example, 10A in FIG. 4). At that time, IMEI information ofthe terminal is transmitted from the base station (for example, 10A inFIG. 4) to the EPC network 40 of the MVNO carder C, using apredetermined message.(2) In the EPC network 40 (for example, PCRF 44, PCEF, PGW 42, etc.) ofthe MVNO carrier C, IMEI of the terminal, IMEI of the cooperationdatabase 45, and IMEIs of the statistical information table 44-2 and thecontractor information table 44-3 are collated. If the collation resultof the IMEI of the terminal is okay and a password authentication of theuser account (performed by an authentication server not illustrated) isokay, then payment confirmation is performed. When the charging methodfor the terminal is of a prepaid type, a balance of the prepaid accountis confirmed. If it is confirmed that a prepaid balance remains, it isjudged that the terminal authentication and the payment confirmation areokay.(3) When both results of the terminal authentication and the paymentconfirmation are okay, communication of the terminal is allowed. Whenthe communication is allowed, the communication service is provided tothe terminal.(4) When the terminal authentication is not okay (in the case of NG (Nogood)), the communication of the terminal is not allowed. Even in thecase where the terminal authentication is okay, if the paymentconfirmation is not okay, the communication or the terminal is notallowed. It is noted that regarding a terminal, if the terminalauthentication thereof is okay and the payment confirmation thereof isnot okay (NO), PGW (42 in FIG. 5) and so forth may allow the terminal toperform communication at low-speed communication (for example, 128kbps), for a predetermined period, based on policy setting by PCRF (44in FIG. 5), and PCEF).(5) As a result of the communication permission, the communicationservice by the MVNO carrier C is provided to the terminal, and thecommunication amount of the terminal is measured. The communicationamount of the terminal is totaled up, every month, every day, or at anarbitrary timing (online), and the packet count value and the like ofthe statistical information table 44-2 are updated.

As an option, the communication data amount of a predeterminedapplication can be excluded from the packet count. A data destination, adata header, and so forth may be collated to a predetermined list, andmatched data may be excluded from the packet count.

(6) The MVNO carrier C executes charging processing, monthly, daily, orat an arbitrary timing. A predetermined fixed fee or a fee correspondingto a communication amount may be withdrawn. At that tune, accountinformation of the cooperation database 45, charging method, and accountinformation (credit card number) are acquired.(7) The MVNO carrier C charges the usage fee of the terminal (7A) to acard company 70, or performs prepaid processing (7B).(8) The integrated service providing site of the MVNO carrier C (site(server) providing the service 51 in FIG. 5) notifies usage details tothe user account via notifying unit 52-1, such as electronic mail (forexample, Web mail etc.) or the like.(9) The usage details (for example, basic monthly fee, packet flat ratefee, communication and call charges, etc.) are notified to the user'sterminal. When the charging method is payment by credit card, details onwithdrawal from the credit company is sent to the user, for example, onemonth behind.<Charging Apparatus>

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acharging apparatus (charging server) 60 of the MVNO carrier C. Thecharging apparatus (charge management apparatus) of the MVNO carrier Cis connected to the EPC network 40, the PCRF database 44-1, and thecooperation database 45 in FIG. 4. The charging apparatus of the MVNOcarrier C may be provided in the data center (50 in FIG. 2) owned by theMVNO carrier C.

Referring to FIG. 7, the charging apparatus 60 includes a contractorinformation collation unit 61, a communication charge calculation unit62, other service charge calculation unit 63, unified charge calculationunit 64, payment processing unit 65, and a usage details notificationunit 66.

The contractor information collation unit 61 collates the terminalidentification information (IMEI) with the user's account information,to make a linkage therebetween. The communication charge calculationunit 62 acquires communication charge and call charge from the PCRFdatabase 44-1 with respect to each terminal (on which a SIM card of theMVNO carrier C is mounted) of the IMEI corresponding to a user'saccount. When the user owns a plurality of terminals (on each of which aSIM card of the MVNO carrier C is mounted) with the same account, thecommunication charge calculation unit 62 calculates communication chargeand call charge of each terminal from the PCRF database 44-1 The otherservice charge calculation unit 63 acquires charging information of aservice (for example, electronic book purchasing, music delivery, etc.)provided by the integrated service providing site of the MVNO carrier C.

The unified charge calculation unit 64 sums up charges from thecommunication charge calculation unit 62 and the other service chargingcalculation unit 63. The payment processing unit 65 either withdraws apredetermined fixed fee, on a monthly or daily basis, or at an arbitrarytiming, or withdraws a fixed fee corresponding to the communicationamount. That is, the payment processing unit 65 either requests theusage charge to the credit card company (70 in FIG. 6) with a creditcard number, or withdraws from the prepaid balance. The usage detailsnotification unit 66 creates usage details in response with a monthly,daily, or an arbitrary timing withdrawal, and transmits to the user theusage details, for example, by electronic-mail (for example, Web mail)or the like.

Even if the user has a separate contract with a MVNO carrier regardingeach of a plurality of terminals owned by the user, using a common useraccount (contract contents for the terminals such as quota aredifferent), monthly usage details may be done once in a singlenotification in which a total charge amount of the plurality ofterminals is included and a communication charge or the like of eachindividual terminal may be described by breakdown of the details.

In FIG. 7, a part or all of functions of the contractor informationcollation unit 61, communication charge calculation unit 62, otherservice charge calculation unit 63, unified charge calculation unit 64,payment processing unit 65, and the usage details notification unit 66may, as a matter of course, be realized by a program executed on acomputer such as a server. The program may be stored in a storage unit(a hard disk drive unit or a semiconductor storage unit or the like)(not illustrated), loaded into a main memory of the computer, andexecuted.

As a variation example of the example embodiment, with respect to theuser's terminal, when a prepaid reserve capacity (balance) of theterminal in the cooperation database 45 becomes equal to or less than apredetermined value or the balance becomes 0, the fact may be notifiedvia the notifying unit 52-1 to the terminal of the user. A low-speedcommunication (for example, 128 kbps) of the terminal for apredetermined period of time, may be allowed under the above describedcommunication policy control made by OCS, PCRF, PCEF, PGW, etc., evenwhen a prepaid balance of the terminal is zero and not charged.

According to the example embodiment, it is possible to perform unifiedcharging for one or more terminals contracting with a MVNO carrier thatborrows communication facilities owned by a plurality of carriers andprovides communication services, thereby improving convenience andservices. In addition, it is possible to enhance convenience andincrease usage of a site(s) that provides various services by unifyingcharging to a user who uses the site(s) and charging to the usercontracting with the MVNO carrier.

Each disclosure of the above-listed Non Patent Literature isincorporated herein by reference. Modification and adjustment of eachexemplary embodiment or each example are possible within the scope ofthe overall disclosure including the claims of the present invention andbased on the basic technical concept of the present invention. Variouscombinations and selections of various disclosed elements (includingeach element in each claim, each element in each example, each elementin each drawing, and so on) are possible within the scope of the claimsof the present invention. That is, the present invention naturallyincludes various variations and modifications that could be made bythose skilled in the art according to the overall disclosure includingthe claims and the technical concept.

The above-described embodiment may be annexed, for example, as follows,though not limited thereto.

(Supplementary Note 1)

A charging management apparatus connected to a communication network ofa virtual communication operator, the apparatus comprising:

a first unit that specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via a first communicationnetwork of a first communication operator; and

a second unit that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal and charging for a service that the virtual communicationoperator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the useridentification information.

(Supplementary Note 2)

The charging management apparatus according to supplementary note 1,wherein the first unit specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a second terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via a second communicationnetwork of a second communication operator, and

wherein the second unit, based on the user identification informationspecified respectively with respect to the first terminal and the secondterminal, manages charging for communication of the first terminal, andcharging for communication of the second terminal.

(Supplementary Note 3)

The charging management apparatus according to supplementary note 1 or2, wherein the user identification information is common to useridentification information commonly used in utilization of one or aplurality of kinds of services that the virtual communication operatoris enabled to provide,

wherein the second unit, based on terminal identification information ofeach terminal and the user identification information specified for theeach terminal,

manages charging for communication of the each terminal, in cooperationwith charging for use of the one or the plurality of kinds of servicesby the each terminal.

(Supplementary Note 4)

The charging management apparatus according supplementary note 2 or 3,comprising:

a first storage unit including at least one of the terminalidentification information of each terminal and at least one of a packettransfer amount, a packet charge, and a call time of a terminalcorresponding to the terminal identification information, as informationon communication of each terminal;

a second storage unit including terminal identification information of aterminal owned by the user and at least one of a communication plan orlimitation, and account information, as information on the user; and

a third storage unit that manages the user identification informationand the terminal identification information in association with eachother.

(Supplementary Note 5)

The charging management apparatus according to supplementary note 4,wherein the third storage unit stores a charging method including atleast one of prepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondencewith the user identification information.

(Supplementary Note 6)

The charging management apparatus according to supplementary note 5,further comprising

a unit that transmits to the terminal a notification to as such, when aprepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value orruns out.

(Supplementary Note 7)

The charging management apparatus according to any one of supplementarynotes 1 to 6, wherein the communication network of the virtualcommunication operator includes a virtualized network.

(Supplementary Note 8)

The charging, management apparatus according to supplementary note 1,wherein, when the user identification information of one or moreterminals each connecting to the communication network of the virtualcommunication operator via a communication network of the firstcommunication operator or a second communication operator is the same asthe user identification information of the second terminal, as a resultof specifying the user identification information by the first unit,

the second unit sums a charge for communication of the one or moreterminals and a charge for communication of the first terminal inassociation with the same user identification information to perform aunified management thereof.

(Supplementary Note 9)

A charging management apparatus that connects to a communication networkof a virtual communication operator that provides a communicationservice using a communication facility of a first communication networkof a first communication operator and a communication facility of asecond communication network of a second communication operator, theapparatus comprising:

a first unit that specifies first user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connected to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via the firstcommunication network, and specifying second user identificationinformation for identifying a user of a second terminal connecting tothe communication network of the virtual communication operator via thesecond communication network; and

a second unit that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal based on the first user identification information, andcharging for communication of the second terminal based on the seconduser identification information,

(Supplementary Note 10)

The charging management apparatus according to supplementary note 9,wherein when the first user identification information and the seconduser identification information are the same as the result of specifyingthe user identification information by the first unit,

the second unit sums a charge for communication of the first terminaland a charge for communication of the second terminal in associationwith the same user identification information to perform a unifiedmanagement thereof.

(Supplementary Note 11)

A communication system comprising:

a communication network of a virtual communication operator thatprovides a communication service by using a communication facility of afirst communication network of a first communication operator and acommunication facility of a second communication network of a secondcommunication operator; and

a charging management apparatus connected to the communication networkof the virtual communication operator, wherein the charging managementapparatus comprises:

a first unit that specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via the firstcommunication network of the first communication operator; and

a second unit that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal and charging for a service that the virtual communicationoperator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the useridentification information.

(Supplementary Note 12)

The communication system according to supplementary note 11, wherein inthe charging management apparatus, the first unit specifies useridentification information for identifying a user of a second terminalconnecting to the communication network of the virtual communicationoperator via the second communication network of a second communicationoperator, and

wherein the second unit, based on the user identification informationspecified respectively with respect to the first terminal and the secondterminal, manages charging for communication of the first terminal, andcharging for communication of the second terminal.

(Supplementary Note 13)

The communication system according to supplementary note 11 or 12,wherein the user identification information is common to useridentification information commonly used in utilization of one or aplurality of kinds of services that the virtual communication operatoris enabled to provide, wherein in the charging management apparatus,

the second unit, based on terminal identification information of eachterminal and the user identification information specified for the eachterminal,

manages charging for communication of the each terminal, in cooperationwith charging for use of the one or the plurality of kinds of servicesby the each terminal.

(Supplementary Note 14)

The communication system according to supplementary note 12 or 13,comprising:

a first storage unit including at least one of the terminalidentification information of each terminal and at least one of a packettransfer amount, a packet charge, and a call time of a terminalcorresponding to the terminal identification information, as informationon communication of each terminal;

a second storage unit including terminal identification information of aterminal owned by the user and at least one of a communication plan orlimitation, and account information, as information on the user; and

a third storage unit that manages the user identification informationand the terminal identification information in association with eachother.

(Supplementary Note 15)

The communication system according to supplementary note 14, wherein thethird storage unit stores a charging method including, at least one ofprepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondence with the useridentification information.

(Supplementary Note 16)

The communication system according to supplementary note 15, furthercomprising

a unit that transmits to the terminal a notification to as such, when aprepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value orruns out.

(Supplementary Note 17)

The communication system according to any one of supplementary notes 11to 16, wherein that the communication network of the virtualcommunication operator includes a virtualized network.

(Supplementary Note 18)

The communication system according to supplementary note 11, wherein,when the user identification information of one or more terminals eachconnecting to the communication network of the virtual communicationoperator via a communication network of the first communication operatoror a second communication operator is the same as the useridentification information of the second terminal, as a result ofspecifying the user identification information by the first unit,

the second unit sums a charge for communication of the one or moreterminals and a charge for communication of the first terminal inassociation with the same user identification information to perform aunified management thereof.

(Supplementary Note 19)

A charging management method comprising:

specifying user identification information for identifying a user of afirst terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtualcommunication operator via a first communication network of a firstcommunication operator; and

managing charging for communication of the first terminal and chargingfor a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled toprovide to the user identified by the user identification information.

(Supplementary Note 20)

The charging management method according to supplementary note 19,comprising:

specifying user identification information for identifying a user of asecond terminal connecting to the communication network of the virtualcommunication operator via a second communication network of a secondcommunication operator, and

based on the user identification information specified respectively withrespect to the first terminal and the second terminal, managing

charging for communication of the first terminal, and

charging for communication of the second terminal.

(Supplementary Note 21)

The charging management method according to supplementary note 19 or 20,wherein the user identification information is common to useridentification information commonly used in utilization of one or aplurality of kinds of services that the virtual communication operatoris enabled to provide, the method comprising

based on terminal identification information of each terminal and theuser identification information specified for the each terminal,

managing charging for communication of the each terminal, in cooperationwith charging for use of the one or the plurality of kinds of servicesby the each terminal.

(Supplementary Note 22)

The charging management method according to supplementary note 20 or 21,comprising, as information on communication of each terminal, a firststorage unit storing at least one of the terminal identificationinformation of each terminal and at least one of a packet transferamount, a packet charge, and a call time of a terminal corresponding tothe terminal identification information;

as information on the user, a second storage unit storing terminalidentification information of a terminal owned by the user and at leastone of a communication plan or limitation, and account information, asinformation on the user; and

a third storage unit storing the user identification information and theterminal identification information in association with each other.

(Supplementary Note 23)

The charging management method according to supplementary note 22,wherein the third storage unit stores a charging method including atleast one of prepayment or payment by a credit card corresponding to theuser identification information.

(Supplementary Note 24)

The charging management method according to supplementary note 23,comprising

transmitting to the terminal a notification to as such, when a prepaidbalance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value or runs out.

(Supplementary Note 25)

The charging management method according to supplementary note 19,comprising

when the user identification information of one or more terminals eachconnecting to the communication network of the virtual communicationoperator via a communication network of the first communication operatoror a second communication operator is the same as the useridentification information of the second terminal, as a result ofspecifying the user identification information by the first unit,

summing a charge for communication of the one or more terminals and acharge for communication of the first terminal in association with thesame user identification information to perform a unified managementthereof.

(Supplementary Note 26)

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing therein aprogram causing a computer constituting a charge management apparatusconnected to a communication network of a virtual communicationoperator, to execute:

a first processing that specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a first terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via a first communicationnetwork of a first communication operator; and

a second processing that manages charging for communication of the firstterminal and charging for a service that the virtual communicationoperator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the useridentification information.

(Supplementary Note 27)

The non-transitory medium according to supplementary note 26, whereinthe first processing specifies user identification information foridentifying a user of a second terminal connecting to the communicationnetwork of the virtual communication operator via a second communicationnetwork of a second communication operator, and

wherein the second processing, based on the user identificationinformation specified respectively with respect to the first terminaland the second terminal, manages charging for communication of the firstterminal, and charging for communication of the second terminal.

(Supplementary Note 28)

The non-transitory medium according to supplementary note 26 or 27,wherein the user identification information is common to useridentification information commonly used in utilization of one or aplurality of kinds of services that the virtual communication operatoris enabled to provide,

wherein the second processing, based on terminal identificationinformation of each terminal and the user identification informationspecified for the each terminal,

manages charging for communication of the each terminal, in cooperationwith charging for use of the one or the plurality of kinds of servicesby the each terminal.

(Supplementary Note 29)

The non-transitory medium according to supplementary note 27, wherein,when the user identification information of the first terminal and theuser identification information of the second terminal are the same, asa result of specifying, the user identification information by the firstprocessing,

the second processing sums a charge for communication of the firstterminal and a charge for communication of the second terminal inassociation with the same user identification information to perform aunified management: thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A charging management apparatus comprising: amemory storing instructions; and a processor configured to execute theinstructions to: specify first user identification informationcomprising first charging information for connecting to a communicationnetwork via a first network operator; specify second user identificationinformation comprising second charging information for connecting to thecommunication network via a second network operator; and based on thespecified first user identification information and the specified seconduser identification information, unify the first charging informationand the second charging information to an account for a service of avirtual network operator.
 2. The charging management apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the service is provided by the virtual networkoperator, via a data center operated by the virtual network operator. 3.The charging management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to execute the instructions to: chargefor the service to the account.
 4. The charging management apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured toexecute the instructions to: receive a charging method including atleast one of prepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondencewith the first user identification information or the second useridentification information.
 5. The charging management apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first user identification informationis for telecom carrier service provided by at least one of the firstnetwork operator or the second network operator; and wherein the seconduser identification information is for a cloud service.
 6. The chargingmanagement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to execute the instructions to: transmit to theaccount a notification when a prepaid balance becomes equal to or lessthan a predetermined value or runs out.
 7. A charging management methodcomprising: specifying first user identification information comprisingfirst charging information for connecting to a communication network viaa first network operator; specifying second user identificationinformation comprising second charging information for connecting to thecommunication network via a second network operator; and based on thespecified first user identification information and the specified seconduser identification information, unifying the first charging informationand the second charging information to an account for a service of avirtual network operator.
 8. The charging management method according toclaim 7, wherein the service is provided by the virtual networkoperator, via a data center operated by the virtual network operator. 9.The charging management method according to claim 7, further comprising:charging for the service to the account.
 10. The charging managementmethod according to claim 7, further comprising: receiving a chargingmethod including at least one of prepayment or payment by a credit card,in correspondence with the first user identification information or thesecond user identification information.
 11. The charging managementmethod according to claim 7, wherein the first user identificationinformation is for telecom carrier service provided by at least one ofthe first network operator or the second network operator; and whereinthe second user identification information is for a cloud service. 12.The charging management method according to claim 7, further comprising:transmitting to the account a notification when a prepaid balancebecomes equal to or less than a predetermined value or runs out.